Mail box



A. M. HOWELL MAIL BOX Filed Sent. 15 1922 Patented Jan. 1, 19241.

NHTD

AUGUSTUS M. HOWELL, 0F DALLAS, TEXAS.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed September 15, 1922. Serial No. 588,382.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS M. How- ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MailBoxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to be mounted on a screen door, and having a pair of closures disposed on opposite sides of an opening in the screen, whereby access to the contents of the device may be had from either side of said door. By such arrangement the postman may place mail in the box from the outside and it may be removed therefrom by persons in the house without having to open the screen door. I

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention. 7 The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein: I

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the outside of a mail box embodying the invention and mounted in operative position Fig. 2 is an end view of the same,

Fig. 8 is an inner side view of one of the closures and its frame,

Fig. f is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a rectangular frame member and 10 a similar member corresponding thereto. Both members are provided with a plurality of apertures 11 adapted to be alined and receive fastening elements such as short bolts 12 with wing nuts 13. Closures 14 and lt, respectively, are mounted in the members and hinged to the lower longitudinal edges thereof. Hinge members 15 are provided on the said edges of the closures and frame members and an elongated spring wire 16 forms the hinge element connecting the members 15. The said wire has one end secured to the closure and the other end to the frame member, whereby it normally holds said closure in an upright position against said member.

The marginal portions of the closures are bent inwardly to provide flanges 17 which for the reception of mail.

The frame member 10 has an extension 10 adapted to be secured to the door frame A; I

and lend stability to the box.

In installing the device the molding C is temporarily removed and the frame member 10 is placed against the screen B so that the end of the extension 1O overlaps the outer edge of the screen on the door frame A. The extension is secured to said frame by screws 18 and the molding C is replaced so that it covers said screws. vThe frame member 10' is positioned on the opposite side of the screen so that the apertures 11 of the two members are alined. The bolts 12 are inserted thru said apertures and the wing nuts 13 screwed tightly. thereon, whereby the parts are clamped together. The portion of the screen within the frame members is removed, which may be readily done with a knife or the like. It will beseen that the closures open in opposite directions, and by swinging the closure 14: downwardly the postman may place mail in the box from the outside, while the same may be removed from the inside, by opening the closure 14. The device obviates the necessity of opening the screen door or going out of the house to get the mail.

In the closure 14. I provide a relatively large aperture 20 so that the postman may readily see whether there is mail in the box to be posted, without coming all the way to the house when he has no mail to deliver. In the opposite closure 14 I provide a plurality of perforations 21 so that persons in the house may easily observe whether there is mail in said box.

Various changes in the size and shape, as well as modifications, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mail box, the combination with a screen door having a portion of the screen out out to provide an opening, of a pair of corresponding frame members mounted on opposite sides of the said opening and overlapping the marginal portion of the screen surrounding said opening, clamping elements penetrating said members and screen and securing the same together, and a cloand resilient means for normally holding said vclosures in an upright position with opposite sides of the said opening and overlapping the marginal portion of the screen surrounding'said opening, clamping elements penetrating sald members and screen and securing the same together, a closure mounted in each frame member having an inwardly directed marginal flange normally bearing against said member, both closures constituting a box adapted to swing outwardly in opposite directions to each other,

said flanges against said members.

3, In a mailbox, the combinatlon with a screen door, of a pair of corresponding frame'm embersadapted to be mounted on opposite sides of an opening in the foraminou s material'ofa door, so as to overlap the marginal portions of said material sur round ng said opening, means for securing said members together, and a box like clodirection to the other.

4. In a mail box, the combination with a screen door, of a pair of corresponding frame members adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of an opening in the torami- 'nousmaterial of a door, so as to overlap the marginal portions of said material surrounding said opening, means for securing said members together, a box like closure mounted in each frame member and adapted to' swing outwardly in an opposite direction to the other, and resilient means for nor mally holding the closures in an upright position against said frame members.

5. In a mail box, the combination with a screen door, of a pair of corresponding frame members adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of an opening in the 'toraniinous material of a door, so as to AUGUSTUS M. HOWELL. 

